What happens in the delivery room after the birth?

What happens after birth?

The birth is done, and while your body recovers from the exertion, your baby is placed on your chest for the first time in the delivery room. It is usually still wet and sometimes covered by a whitish layer, the so-called cheese smear. This layer contains many nutrients and can stay on the skin for a while. The umbilical cord is cut after a clamp is placed. This is how the doctor or midwife prevents the baby from losing too much blood. Towels protect the little body from cooling down and you and your partner have time to get to know your child.

First examinations in the delivery room

Good clinics allow the new parents as much time in the delivery room as they need to process and enjoy the new situation. That could well be two or three more hours. While mother and child are so close, caring for the mother and baby is much easier for the doctors and midwives. The afterbirth can be “born” in peace. Your circulation will be checked at regular intervals and wounds from an episiotomy or perineal tear will be treated.

Initial examinations of the child can also be done on the mother’s chest. This includes the so-called Apgar test , in which, among other things, the child’s breathing and pulse are checked several times. In addition, the doctor makes sure that your baby has not suffered any injuries during birth and that “everything is correct”. Excess amniotic fluid is removed from the mouth and nose with a small tube, allowing your baby to breathe freely. There is still time later for detailed check-ups, weighing and measuring.

Bonding – a special relationship between parents and child

Many mothers experience an intense feeling of happiness and deep affection for their baby at this moment. This feeling of a deep connection between mother and child is described with the English term ” bonding ” and is now of great importance for many clinics and birth centers.

Experts use the term “bonding” to describe the special bond that is formed between mother and child. The mother’s body actively supports this process with a specific cocktail of hormones. During childbirth, the body releases numerous endorphins to combat the pain, which can trigger a kind of intoxication. At the same time, more oxytocin is also produced, a hormone that stimulates labor and milk production, among other things , but also stimulates feelings like love, trust, and calm.

This feeling can, but does not have to, appear immediately. You don’t need to feel bad if you don’t feel like a mother at first, because that’s how many women feel. Because of the hardship and pain, many mothers simply feel exhausted and look at the situation more soberly, while their partner sheds the first tears of joy.

The bond between parents and child can also be strengthened later and will grow over time. Sometimes it is not possible for health reasons to leave the child with the mother and father immediately after birth. Nevertheless, the subsequent parent-child bond is just as strong as after a “normal” delivery.

breastfeeding after childbirth

The child’s sucking reflex is already fully developed and you can usually breastfeed your baby for the first time in the delivery room. Maybe you have to guide your head a bit or the midwife will help. Don’t be surprised if you only produce a little milk at first. The small meal already provides your baby with many antibodies and vitamins.

After these first hours together, you can usually move into your clinic room. In rare cases, mother and child leave the clinic four hours after birth, but you will usually spend a few days in the maternity ward.